The UFC has been on a three week break and was set to return on Jan 14 with a Main Event in the middleweight division between Kelvin Gastelum and Nassourdine Imavov.
That Main Event will no longer take place as Gastelum has pulled out due to an injury.
Gastelum posted a picture showing a bust up tooth and what also looked like a staph infection on his cheek. He issued an apology to the UFC, Imavov and his camp for not being able to make the fight.
Sean Strickland Steps In AT Light Heavyweight
It’s not a great start for the UFC to get its very first Main Event of 2023 disrupted but the UFC is used to handling curveballs. Sean Strickland who headlined the final UFC event of 2022 and lost has decided to step in as a replacement for Gastelum with one change.
Strickland will not be able to make middleweight in time for the Jan 14 deadline, so the UFC has reworked its Main Event to now be at lightheavyweight. Strickland will now face Imavov and will want to get his New Year started on a winning note!